Technical Support and Investment Project for the Phaseout of Ozone Depleting Substances

Country:

Slovenia

Sector:

Pollution Control / Waste Management, Environment

L/C Number:

Partners Involved:

GEF

Prepared By:

Andres Liebenthal, OEDST

Reviewed By:

Laurie Effron

Group Manager:

Gregory Ingram

Date Posted:

04/12/1999

2. Project Objectives, Financing, Costs, and Components:

The principal objective was to assist Slovenia in the cost-effective phaseout of ozone depleting substances (ODS). Total project costs of US$8.8 million were financed by a GEF grant of US$5.9 million and US$2.9 million in counterpart funds provided by the participating enterprises. The project included: (i) an institutional strengthening component that supported the project implementation unit and studies, training, and workshops; and (ii) an investment component that supported six ODS replacement subprojects.

3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives:

The objectives of the project were fully achieved. The project supported the implementation of the Country Program for the Phaseout of ODS, including the successful conversion of six major enterprises accounting for 31% of (pre-project) consumption, and the stoppage of all ODS imports in advance of its prohibition in 1996.

4. Significant Outcomes/Impacts:

This project is one of the first ODS phaseout projects in the region. Its successful experience is expected to benefit similar projects in neighbouring countries.

Some ODS are still being smuggled into Slovenia to satisfy the demand for refrigerants. This is being addressed through improved training of customs officials and the initiation of a recovery, reclamation and recycling (3R) scheme.

6. Ratings:

ICR

OED Review

Reason for Disagreement/Comments

Outcome:

Satisfactory

Satisfactory

Institutional Dev.:

Partial

Modest

These ratings are equivalent.

Sustainability:

Likely

Likely

Bank Performance:

Satisfactory

Satisfactory

Borrower Perf.:

Highly Satisfactory

Highly Satisfactory

Quality of ICR:

Exemplary

7. Lessons of Broad Applicablity:

As pointed out by the Borrower, regional workshops on ODS phaseout sponsored by project made a significant contribution to its success. The exchange of experiences and lessons learned with other countries (e.g., Czech Republic, Hungary) with policy issues and incentives were helpful for addressing problems that emerged, and contributed to the design of the 3-R scheme that is being implemented.

8. Audit Recommended? No

Why?

9. Comments on Quality of ICR:

The ICR provides a clear and comprehensive evaluation of the implementation experience of the project and the sectoral strategy ("country program") for ODS phaseout, including its relevance to the Bank's broad goals, its cost effectiveness, and the prospects and requirements to address the smuggling issue and the disposal of remaining ODS stocks in the country. The analysis is sound, and findings are well supported by key statistical indicators that provide adequate evidence of the performance of the project and the sector. As a further improvement from an already high standard, it would have been useful to continue showing sectoral indicators (e.g.,Table 5C) for a few more years, to document the speed and extent to which the 69% of ODS consumption not covered by the project have been phased out.